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Roundup® is a glyphosate-based herbicide weed killer that kills weeds while allowing genetically modified crops to flourish. It covers more than 168 million acres in the United States and is used on almost all corn, cotton and soy farms, as well as on individual consumers’ personal lawns and gardens. Monsanto’s product is one of the most popular weedkillers in the world, because it kills pests with minimal damage to crops and the environment. It is sprayed on entire fields to kill weeds that would prevent crops from thriving. It is also used by landscapers, nursery workers, as well as by homeowners on their home gardens and yards to eliminate common weeds.
In 1970, Monsanto chemist John E. Franz discovered that glyphosate is a highly effective herbicide. In 1974, Monsanto released glyphosate to the market for agricultural use under the name Roundup. It quickly grew in popularity and now generates $4 billion in revenue annually, securing its spot as the most popular herbicide in the world. Roundup is a product of Monsanto, which was acquired by Bayer in 2018 as part of its crop science division. Today, Bayer is the target of thousands of lawsuits that claim a possible association between long-term Roundup use and certain cancers. More specifically, Roundup is alleged to be linked to a group of blood cancers called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).
Because of Monsanto’s advertising campaign, it was widely considered one of the safest herbicides, until new research emerged from the International Agency for Research on Cancer linking it to several types of blood cancer.
The number of lawsuits filed increased after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released a glyphosate risk assessment in 2015, categorizing the chemical as a group 2A probable carcinogen. Despite Monsanto and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) repeated denials of a link between Roundup use and cancer, there is a growing body of research that may support the IARC’s assessment. This includes research published by former EPA advisors that found heavy exposure to Roundup may increase a person’s risk of developing NHL by 41 percent. It also includes the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ATSDR) 2019 toxicological profile, which suggests a possible link between glyphosate exposure and cancer.
The main ingredient in the weed killer, glyphosate, is the product’s most worrisome component. It has been linked to the development of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a deadly blood cancer. The World Health Organization conducted its own investigation following multiple claims that RoundUp was dangerous. In 2015, they declared RoundUp a “probable carcinogen,” or cancer-causing agent. In 2008, The International Journal of Cancer did research of their own, and found that people exposed to glyphosate were twice as likely to develop Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in their lifetime. Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is a blood cancer that attacks the white blood cells or lymphocytes, which typically safeguard the body against infections. The behavior of this cancer varies, and can either be slow to develop, sometimes not showing symptoms for years. However, other cases have cited the cancer as aggressive and quick. Studies also found RoundUp led to the development of other cancers, like leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Farm workers and those exposed to the chemical on a regular basis were found to be the highest at risk. Anyone exposed to glyphosate either by spraying it, breathing while it is being sprayed near you, mixing the chemical, cleaning up the chemical, or drinking or eating anything exposed to glyphosate, could be at risk.
Higher concentrations of glyphosate are used in Roundup products designed for use on harder-to-kill weeds and other invasive growth over expansive areas. Most Roundup products, including Roundup Ready III, Roundup Lawn and Garden, and Roundup Original, also contain other ingredients that help glyphosate work faster and more effectively.
Glyphosate’s toxicity may be enhanced when combined with inactive ingredients found in Roundup products. These adjuvants, or inactive ingredients in Roundup, may be hazardous to humans. Researchers have found that the combination of glyphosate with these chemicals may multiply the toxicity of the product. In other words, the chemicals may be even more powerful (and potentially dangerous) when combined with glyphosate into a single product, than when isolated on their own.
Roundup Products Glyphosate Concentration:
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma presents its own set of symptoms. It is extremely important to seek medical attention if you develop any of the following signs of NHL after being exposed to Roundup:
Those most at risk of developing cancer as a result of Roundup Weed Killer exposure include farm workers, landscapers, nursery workers, and others in occupations that require frequent use of herbicides like Roundup on crops. People who use Roundup for their own home gardens and lawns are also at risk, if they have used the herbicide regularly.
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